The Second Book of Samuel starts right away with David. King David, as he ought to now be called, shows great magnanimity when met with the news of Saul's death. Saul, the great persecutor of David; Saul, the man obsessed with eliminating David; Saul, the king who saw David as a threat and came close many times to killing him. If anyone should be relieved and even happy to hear that Saul was dead, it would be David, who would no longer need to worry every moment about Saul conspiring to end his life. But no, David reacts with sorrow over the news and immediately rends his garments and weeps and even fasts. Of course, David's sorrow was also directed towards Jonathan, whom he loved dearly. But all the same, David shows no malice, no vengeful joy, no satisfaction at the news. In this moment, David shows himself to be very much a prefigure of Jesus, forgiving his enemies. And Saul, sadly, plays the part of the Jews, in this way: He was anointed first, by the holy Samuel, divinely chosen, much was expected of him, but he failed, was overcome with pride, and when God chose David as the new king, Saul would not accept him.
Saul also demonstrates for us that just because God chooses someone, even bestows graces on him, and elevates him to a prominent position with an important mission, that person can still fall. Free will does not cease to be just because someone is granted a special position by God. Saul, had he not chosen the path of pride, could have been a holy and exalted king. Instead he prefigures Judas.
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